How To Be A Good Product Manager

A blog with tips on product management and related topics; written by Jeff Lash

Entries from January 2007

Use caution with cannibalization

Posted on January 31, 2007 by Jeff Lash · No Comments

If you want to be a bad product manager, make sure no other products from your company can possibly cannibalize your sales. If you want to be a good product manager, carefully analyze the potential impact before crying cannibalization.

→ Read the full tip: Use caution with cannibalization

Let go of your past

Posted on January 30, 2007 by Jeff Lash · 2 Comments

If you want to be a bad product manager, pay special attention to the area of the business from which you came. If you want to be a good product manager, be very conscious about not micromanaging in the area you feel most comfortable.

→ Read the full tip: Let go of your past

Use advice appropriately

Posted on January 29, 2007 by Jeff Lash · 1 Comment

If you want to be a bad product manager, be inconsistent in how you take advice. If you want to be a good product manager, value advice similarly regardless of the difficulty of the situations about which you are seeking advice.

→ Read the full tip: Use advice appropriately

Involve sales in product development

Posted on January 26, 2007 by Jeff Lash · 1 Comment

If you want to be a bad product manager, don’t give your sales staff a preview of product enhancements or new product launches. If you want to be a good product manager, engage your sales staff in the product development stage.

→ Read the full tip: Involve sales in product development

Requirements are never done

Posted on January 25, 2007 by Jeff Lash · 5 Comments

If you want to be a bad product manager, finish your requirements and hand them off. If you want to be a good product manager, continue to review and provide additional detail around your requirements.

→ Read the full tip: Requirements are never done

Find the problem behind the question

Posted on January 24, 2007 by Jeff Lash · 2 Comments

If you want to be a bad product manager, answer customer comments or questions and be on your way. If you want to be a good product manager, treat every point of contact with a customer as an opportunity to learn more.

→ Read the full tip: Find the problem behind the question

Making free products or freemiums

Posted on January 23, 2007 by Jeff Lash · 3 Comments

If you want to be a bad product manager, give your product away for free without defined metrics or eventual business models. If you want to be a good product manager, make the decision about to give away your product for free as part of your overall product strategy.

→ Read the full tip: Making free products or freemiums

Courageous product management

Posted on January 22, 2007 by Jeff Lash · 3 Comments

If you want to be a bad product manager, be timid and cautious. If you want to be a good product manager, be courageous.

→ Read the full tip: Courageous product management

Do you need to make it customizable?

Posted on January 19, 2007 by Jeff Lash · 1 Comment

If you want to be a bad product manager, make sure your product is infinitely customizable. If you want to be a good product manager, don’t substitute customizability for making difficult decisions.

→ Read the full tip: Do you need to make it customizable?

Prioritize high-value features

Posted on January 18, 2007 by Jeff Lash · 2 Comments

If you want to be a bad product manager, first implement the features that are quickest to develop. If you want to be a good product manager, first implement the features that will provide most value to your customers and users.

→ Read the full tip: Prioritize high-value features